Over the past 13 years, the Books for Len event has raised about $20,000 for Hilton’s Northwood Elementary School with the help of the McDonald’s Restaurant on Long Pond and Latta Roads. The Books for Len program honors former teacher Len O’Lare, who passed away unexpectedly in 2000. Pam Rapp started the event because of the difference O’Lare made in her daughter’s life by helping her develop a love for reading.
Rapp paired with Elaine Rode, McDonald’s supervisor, to get the restaurant to donate a portion (20 percent) of the proceeds from the two-night event for the purchase of books for the Northwood library and to bring in guest authors. Teachers volunteer to work behind the counter and their students get a kick out of having their teachers wait on them. Even retired teachers and alumni come back to volunteer for the event.
“It’s a great social event for everyone,” said Rapp. “Everyone is working together for a cause and interacting outside of school.” Students love looking at the collages that Rapp and Rode assemble and display from past year’s Books for Len events.
Each new book purchased from the proceeds receives a stamp that reads, “Books for Len” and a starfish picture. The starfish refers to a story that O’Lare told his students about a man walking along a beach throwing starfish back in the ocean. When someone remarked, “You’ll never save them all,” the man replied, “Even if I just save one, I’ve made a difference.”
Northwood students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. Students and staff also donate eight to 10 boxes of children’s books for the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority’s (RGRTA) Books on Buses program. The benefits of books on buses are many. Beyond simply giving children something to do while on the bus, it is an opportunity for parents to spend quality time reading to their children. It gives children who may not have books in the home easy access to them while going about their everyday routines. It also makes public transportation more welcoming for children.
This year’s event raised $1,325.95. McDonald’s also donates lunch and delivers it to the first and second place classes who have the most students participating in Books for Len. This year’s winners were Tom O’Sullivan and Sheri Carter’s classes.
Provided information and photo
11/10/13
